The Sunday Post - Dec 21, 2025: Holiday Giving, Global Leadership, and Indy’s Next Generation of Innovators
- Michael-Paul Hart
- 22 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A weekly report from Councilor Michael-Paul Hart — Building the Smartest City in America.
Volume 1, Issue 7
SmartIndy Holiday Party and Firefly Toy Drive at The Alchemist
This week was a strong one for SmartIndy. We hosted a holiday gathering at The Alchemist and collected gifts for Firefly Children and Family Alliance. The best part was not just the event itself, but seeing people follow through.
Some residents donated through the Amazon wish list. Others stopped by in person to drop off gifts. And several people I have only met recently came back again, which is exactly how a real civic network grows.
I also appreciated getting time with Robert from Firefly. We kept finding overlap in the community groups we are both involved in. That is a good sign. When networks connect, solutions move faster. SmartIndy will keep building on that momentum, especially as we push forward practical work on housing, homelessness, and stronger neighborhood support systems across Indy.
Economic Club Luncheon: Kate Forbes and a Big Reminder About Leadership
I attended the Economic Club luncheon this week featuring Kate Forbes, President of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Economic Club continues to do a great job bringing in serious leaders and keeping the conversations professional and focused.
Her talk connected two areas I care about deeply: humanitarian work and artificial intelligence. She shared real examples of how AI is being used around the world, but she made a point that I think every city should remember: technology can accelerate help, but it cannot replace human responsibility.
For Indy, that is the balance we should aim for. Build smarter systems, yes. Use data, automation, and AI where it improves outcomes, yes. But never lose the human element. The smartest city in America is not the city with the most technology. It is the city that uses technology to serve people better.
YMCA Visit: Ransburg as a Community Anchor
I stopped by the Ransburg YMCA this week to get a firsthand tour. I do not get in there as often as I should, and I left impressed.
The YMCA is doing real work as a community anchor: fitness, youth programming, family support, and a safe place to be. It is also one of the practical answers for needs we do not talk about enough, including computer access for families who do not have it at home.
I encouraged residents to consider the Y if you are looking for:
A gym membership with a community mission
Youth activities and positive structure
A place to plug in, learn, and build healthy routines
We also talked about what it would look like to expand the YMCA’s local presence and partnerships. If we are serious about building the smartest city in America, we need institutions like the YMCA at the table. They are already doing the work, and the city should be building around that strength.
Raymond Park Science Olympiad
I attended Science Olympiad at Raymond Park and helped with awards. It’s a team-based STEM competition and you can tell these students take it seriously. Raymond Park is always near the top in Indiana, and it shows.
What I liked most was seeing the confidence and teamwork; these kids are learning how to think, build, and compete under pressure. Proud of Warren Township for building future leaders in science and technology. This is the pipeline for the smartest city in America.
After attending, I learned Raymond Park hosted schools from four states, with hundreds of attendees and countless hours of preparation behind the scenes. I was especially impressed by the range of events, from remote sensing and electric vehicles to ocean discovery.
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